Arizona Taking Fight Against Human Trafficking to Next Level

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich (L) discusses the problem of human trafficking in Arizona at a press conference in Scottsdale, Ariz., on June 22. Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega (C) and Scottsdale Police Chief John Walther (R) spoke about the city's efforts to combat the problem through a partnership with the Arizona Anti-Trafficking Network and Homeland Security Investigations. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich hailed Scottsdale as the state’s first city to train a majority of its public employees to detect the warning signs of human trafficking.

Approximately 1,700 of the city’s 2,000 public employees have received free training through the Arizona Anti-Trafficking Network (AATN) and its CEASE (Cities Engaged Against Sexual Exploitation) program.

Brnovich said Scottsdale is the first city in Arizona to be designated a CEASE-certified community in 2022.

“Raising awareness is one of the best weapons in our fight against human trafficking,” he said in a statement. “Training employees to recognize and respond to the warning signs of this terrible crime can make a life-saving difference for victims in need.”

Brnovich and city officials held a June 22 press conference at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, the first hotel in Arizona to receive AATN program certification in 2020.

About 220 hotel employees received training in the key physical and emotional indicators of human trafficking.

Second-Largest Criminal Enterprise

Human trafficking comes in the form of sex trafficking and labor trafficking and is currently the second-largest criminal enterprise in the world.

According to Brnovich, tourism is a big industry in Scottsdale, where high-profile events draw millions of people every year—and with them, human trafficking.

“We’re a hub for major events—and with that comes the illegal sex trade,” Scottsdale Police Chief Jeff Walther said.

Walther said the problem is one of supply and demand. Through the department’s new Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit, Scottsdale law enforcement hope to make a considerable dent in the problem.

Since receiving the training, at least three city employees have identified signs of human trafficking and reported back to authorities, he said.

“This is a problem. It’s a significant problem. It ruins lives in the same manner that the fentanyl crisis ruins lives,” Walther said. “It’s time the silent majority stand for the ones who can’t stand for themselves.”

The AATN works in partnership with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to address the problem in Arizona.

AATN President and Board Chairman John Meza said his organization operates with five community impact programs that target human trafficking by teaching how to identify, report, and address it.

Successful Prosecutions

Brnovich said his office has successfully prosecuted 300 cases of human trafficking, while another 200 cases are pending.

“We have an obligation to protect the most vulnerable,” he said. “This is something we can’t do alone and that prosecutors and police officers can’t do alone. It takes the entire community to combat this issue.”

Working with AATN “allows us to take the fight to the next level,” according to Brnovich.

Meza said the organization’s SAFE (Safeguarding All From Exploitation) program teaches people how to recognize and respond to the red flags of human trafficking. He said a community effort is crucial to solving the problem.

“Together, we are more effective,” he said.

During the press conference, Hotel Valley Ho General Manager Ronen Aviram took part in a plaque presentation honoring the hotel’s commitment to fighting human trafficking.